“Today, Romania has once again demonstrated its commitment, friendship and support to North Macedonia for its Euro-Atlantic path, enabling the development of a common future. Allow me to extend sincere gratitude on my behalf, on behalf of the MPs in North Macedonia’s Parliament, and on behalf of the citizens, we are honoured to have you as our friends and partners,” Speaker Xhaferi said.

Romania is the seventh NATO member state to ratify North Macedonia’s NATO Accession Protocol. Greece was the first one, followed by Slovenia, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Montenegro.

The Protocol is to be ratified in Lithuania’s Seimas Thursday. After Bucharest, Xhaferi is heading for Vilnius, where he will address the Lithuanian MPs.

North Macedonia's NATO Accession Protocol should also be ratified by the Belgian Parliament by the end of this year, but are still no precise deadlines, said the Belgian Foreign Ministry.